re: Indiana Coach Offers 8th grader (Basketball)

I worded it wrong and I thought I clarified it.

If the ultimate goal is to sign that player, which by offering them a scholarship it appears is the case, then if that player does not pan out, then the plan "backfired." It will likely not have a lastining negative impact on the program, so it won't "backfire" in that sense.

Regardless, a program with the stature of Indiana should not be doing this. This is something a non-elite school should do to draw attention. Billy Gillespie did this frequently at Kentucky, with virtually zero success. I don't think any of his middle school recruits ever went on to play major college basketball.